There’s something so joyful about making treats that look as good as they taste — and that’s exactly why I adore the Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe. It’s festive, fun, and utterly delicious; plus, it’s a project you can get the whole family involved in. These treats bring holiday cheer with every bite!

The image shows green triangular treats shaped like Christmas trees arranged on a white plate with a textured edge. Each treat has a light brown pretzel stick at the base to look like a tree trunk. The green layers have a textured, rice crispy look and are decorated with white icing drizzled in diagonal lines across the triangles. Small colorful sprinkles add detail, including red and green thin sprinkles, gold star shapes, round yellow dots, and small silver balls. The plate sits on a light blue surface with some white powdered sugar and Christmas ornaments nearby. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

From my experience, these Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats aren’t just adorable; they’re a surefire crowd-pleaser that’s surprisingly easy to whip up. I love how the soft marshmallow base contrasts with a subtle crunch from the pretzel sticks, making every bite fun and festive.

Easy to make: This recipe uses simple ingredients and straightforward steps that even kids can help with, so you’ll feel accomplished and stress-free.
Festive presentation: The fun tree shape and colorful sprinkles make these treats stand out at any holiday gathering.
Customizable: You can easily change up the colors, toppings, or even lining decorations based on your creativity or what you have on hand.
Keeps well: These treats stay soft and fresh for days when stored right — a win for busy holiday schedules.

The image shows five triangular rice cereal treats shaped like Christmas trees on a white plate with a slightly uneven edge. Each treat has a bright green textured base made from rice cereal, layered with white icing drizzled diagonally across the top. Colorful sprinkles in red, green, gold, and silver star and round shapes are scattered all over the green surface, making the treats look festive. At the base of each triangle, a short brown pretzel stick sticks out, acting as the tree trunk. The background is a soft white marbled texture, with some small Christmas ornaments and a white bowl partially visible. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic of this Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe is really in the balance of simple, quality ingredients that come together perfectly — and a few holiday twists that make all the difference.

Flat lay of a few tablespoons of unsalted butter in a small white bowl, a small mound of fresh white marshmallows, a tiny white bowl containing a few drops of green gel food coloring, a small white bowl with pale vanilla extract, a crisp pile of golden puffed rice cereal, a neat bundle of natural pretzel sticks, a scattering of colorful Christmas sprinkles on a white ceramic plate, a small white bowl filled with melted white chocolate, all arranged with perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted butter: Acts as the luscious binder and gives richness without overpowering the marshmallow’s sweet, soft texture.
Marshmallows: The heart of any Krispie treat, melting into a sticky, sweet syrup that clings perfectly to the cereal.
Green gel food coloring: Adds vibrant holiday color without thinning out the marshmallow mixture, unlike liquid dyes.
Vanilla extract: A subtle background flavor that makes the treat taste homemade and comforting.
Rice Krispies cereal: Provides that iconic crunchy snap and lightness essential for the classic texture.
Pretzel sticks: These are the “trunks” of our edible trees and add a salty crunch contrast that keeps every bite interesting.
Christmas sprinkles: They bring festive color and a bit of fun texture to finish things off beautifully.
White chocolate: Melted for drizzling, it doubles as “glue” to help sprinkles stick and adds a creamy sweetness that pairs beautifully with the saltiness of pretzels.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I’ve played around with this Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe plenty of times, and I always encourage you to put your own spin on it. Maybe you want to use colored marshmallows or swap the sprinkles for mini edible pearls. The fun is in playing around and making each batch uniquely yours.

Variation: I once added a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg to the marshmallow mixture for an extra cozy holiday vibe – trust me, it was a hit at the cookie exchange!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Ingredients

First, lightly grease a 13×9-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Have all your ingredients measured and ready to go because things will move quickly once your marshmallows start melting.

Step 2: Melt Butter and Marshmallows Gently

In a large pot over low heat, melt the butter slowly. Once it's melted, add the marshmallows stirring frequently to avoid burning. Keep the heat low and be patient — the key is a smooth, glossy marshmallow mix without scorching.

Step 3: Add Color and Flavor

Remove the pot from heat and quickly stir in the green gel food coloring and vanilla extract. The gel coloring won’t thin out the mixture and will give you that perfect pine tree shade.

Step 4: Fold in Rice Krispies and Press

Immediately fold in the cereal until every piece is coated. Pour into your prepared dish and press gently with a spatula – don’t press too firmly or your treats will turn out hard. The goal is soft, chewy bites that hold their shape.

Step 5: Let Set and Cut Into Trees

Allow the treats to set for at least one hour at room temperature. Then slice horizontally in half for thinner layers, and cut into triangles to create your festive trees.

Step 6: Decorate Your Trees

Melt your white chocolate according to the package instructions. Carefully insert one pretzel stick into the base of each triangle as the trunk. Using the melted chocolate as “glue,” pipe it onto each tree and sprinkle on your Christmas sprinkles. Let dry, then enjoy your handiwork!

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve discovered a few tricks that really make this Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe stand out, especially if you’re new to working with melted marshmallows and decorative treats like this.

Low and Slow Melting: Keep the heat low when melting butter and marshmallows to avoid scorching, which can quickly ruin the flavor and texture.
Gently Pressing Dough: Don’t press the mixture too hard into the pan — firm enough to compact but soft enough to keep the treats chewy.
Use Gel Food Coloring: Liquid colors thin the marshmallow mixture, so stick to gel for that rich Christmas green.
Pretzel Trunks: When inserting pretzel sticks, do it while treats are slightly warm so they stick well but avoid breaking.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe

Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love using a mix of colorful Christmas-themed sprinkles and, sometimes, tiny edible stars or silver balls. It just makes each tree shine and feels extra special, especially if you’re serving kids or holiday guests.

Side Dishes

These treats pair beautifully with a hot cup of cocoa or your favorite holiday punch. If you’re planning a festive dessert table, add in some gingerbread cookies or peppermint bark for variety and fun.

Creative Ways to Present

One of my favorite tricks is arranging the treats upright in a festive box or basket, nestled on some colored tissue paper or fake snow. For parties, you can even skewer them on a decorative stick or use mini cupcake liners in holiday colors as bases. It elevates the whole vibe, making these treats not just tasty but also an eye-catching centerpiece.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats in an airtight container at room temperature, and they’ll stay soft and tasty for up to a week. I always find it best to keep them away from humidity to avoid sogginess or dryness.

Freezing

You can freeze these treats wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in a freezer bag for up to a month. When you’re ready, let them thaw at room temperature — they’ll bring back that fresh-baked charm, just like the first day.

Reheating

Honestly, I don’t usually reheat Rice Krispie treats, as they’re at their best fresh or thawed. But if you want to warm the white chocolate drizzle a bit, a few seconds in the microwave on low power works wonders.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other cereals instead of Rice Krispies?

While Rice Krispies give the perfect crisp texture, you can experiment with similar puffed rice cereals. Just be aware that texture and flavor might differ slightly with substitutions.

How do I keep my Rice Krispie treats from getting hard?

Avoid pressing the mixture too firmly into the pan and store treats in an airtight container at room temperature. Use fresh marshmallows and cereal for the best chewy texture.

Can kids help make this recipe?

Absolutely! This recipe is great for getting kids involved. Just make sure an adult handles the hot melting steps and supervises poking pretzels and decorating.

What if I don’t have green gel food coloring?

You could try liquid food coloring, but it may thin the marshmallow mixture, making it harder to set. If you do use liquid, add just a drop and watch the texture closely.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Tree Rice Krispie Treats Recipe holds a special place on my holiday dessert table. It’s a wonderful way to get hands sticky, smiles wide, and spirits bright. When you make this recipe, you’re not just baking a treat — you’re making memories. So go ahead, gather your ingredients and your favorite people, and enjoy every sweet moment of the process and the result.